The Armada

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Cocktail History

The Armada is a modern cocktail that was created in 2010 by Lynnette Marrero in New York City, New York. Dreamed up in celebration of Campari’s 150th anniversary, the recipe is considered a reverse Negroni variation that is made with a simple mixture of the bitter Italian liqueur, cream sherry, tequila, and grapefruit.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a blend of gentian root, herbs, spices, and citrus, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bold, bitter orange flavor.

Cream Sherry: This is a type of sherry made with white grapes, water, yeast, and added sweetening such as Pedro Ximénez or concentrated grape must, which are fermented, fortified with brandy, and then aged to develop a sweet, nutty flavor.

Tequila Blanco: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with fermented blue agave and yeast, which are distilled and then left unaged to develop a bright, agave-forward flavor.

Grapefruit Twist: This is the peel of a grapefruit that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Campari
• 🔗 Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry
• 🔗 Dulce Vida Spirits Organic Tequila Blanco

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Mixing Glass: This is a sturdy glass vessel with a wide opening that’s used for stirring cocktails with ice before straining and serving.

Julep Strainer: This is a round metal strainer with a perforated bowl shape and handle that’s used for straining stirred cocktails from a mixing glass while holding back ice and solids.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

Peeler: This is a handheld kitchen tool with a sharp blade that’s used for removing thin strips of peel from fruits and vegetables.

Nick & Nora Glass: This is a small, stemmed glass with a round or square delicately curved bowl that’s used for serving stirred, spirit-forward cocktails in smaller portions.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Piece Peeler Set
• 🔗 Amehla Honeycomb Nick & Nora Glass Set

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Dark and brooding bright red

• Aroma: Herbal Campari and grapefruit

• Taste: Dry taste featuring sherry nuttiness and noticeable agave and citrus notes

• Finish: Bitter yet herbal Campari with more nuttiness

Kendall’s Take
“What a really intriguing take on the Negroni template The Armada turned out to be. Instead of the usual gin and vermouth, this version leans on tequila and sherry, which brings a completely different character to the iconic drink, in my opinion. The combination with Campari creates something that’s bittersweet, lightly nutty, and surprisingly complex—a creative riff that shows how flexible the Negroni format can be even within its typical three-ingredient makeup.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the book Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.